In These Uncaring Times, Will Physicians Lead Us Back to Our Better Angels?
Authors: Robert B. Doherty
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2022)

Ideas and OpinionsNovember 2022In These Uncaring Times, Will Physicians Lead Us Back to Our Better Angels?Robert B. Doherty, BARobert B. Doherty, BAWashington, DC (R.B.D.).Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M22-2196 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail I recently retired from the American College of Physicians, culminating 43 years of advocacy for internal medicine physicians and their patients. I was privileged to have had a front seat to the public policy debates over how to make U.S. health care more equitable and accessible. I can attest to the power of physician advocacy. The enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and efforts to tackle health disparities gave me cause for optimism that the United States was making gradual progress toward a better health care system for all.However, now I am deeply concerned that the United ...References1. Tracking the states where abortion is now banned. New York Times. 23 September 2022. Accessed at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html on 9 September 2022. Google Scholar2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Firearm deaths grow, disparities widen. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/firearm-deaths/index.html on 7 July 2022. Google Scholar3. Butkus R, Doherty R, Bornstein SS, et al; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the United States. A position paper from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169:704-7. [PMID: 30383132] doi:10.7326/M18-1530 LinkGoogle Scholar4. Bloche MG, Werner SK. Abortion bans are a threat to patients. Doctors can and should resist them. Washington Post. 18 August 2022. Accessed at www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/18/abortion-bans-threat-doctors-standards-overcome/ on 9 September 2022. Google Scholar5. Wynia MK. Professional civil disobedience—medical-society responsibilities after Dobbs. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:959-61. [PMID: 36001549] doi:10.1056/NEJMp2210192 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Washington, DC (R.B.D.).Disclosures: The author has reported no disclosures of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M22-2196.Corresponding Author: Robert B. Doherty, BA, 3212 Morrison Street NW, Washington, DC 20015; e-mail, [email protected]com.Author Contributions: Conception and design: R.B. Doherty.Analysis and interpretation of the data: R.B. Doherty.Drafting of the article: R.B. Doherty.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: R.B. Doherty.Final approval of the article: R.B. Doherty.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: R.B. Doherty.Collection and assembly of data: R.B. Doherty.This article was published at Annals.org on 1 November 2022. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics November 2022Volume 175, Issue 11Page: 1604-1605KeywordsClimate changeFirearm injuriesHead injuryHealth careHealth care policyHuman sexual behaviorPrevention, policy, and public healthPublic policyRacismSexual identity ePublished: 1 November 2022 Issue Published: November 2022 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2022 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...